Only South African (or permanent resident) applicants registering towards a full-time Honours, Master's, or Doctoral degree. These include: • First year Honours students • First or second year Master’s students • First, second or third-year Doctoral students You are ineligible if: • Applying in 2026 for a fourth year of a bachelor's degree, LLB, postgraduate certificates or diplomas • registering for a professional degree with a research component less than 33.3% • registering for MMed or MBA • registering for modular studies or full Coursework Master’s • registering for a degree at the same level (or lower) that you have already obtained (e.g. A second Honours degree) • working more than 20 hours per week (Note that NRF is limited to 12 hours per week).

Students registering for a fourth year of a bachelor's degree, certificates, LLB, and diplomas are required to apply for funding through the Undergraduate Student Financial Aid Office.

Students whose online applications are approved for funding, will receive UCT sourced funding. Some students will also receive Departmental or Donated/Invested funding which is outlined in the UCT Handbook 14. 

No. Funding applied for through the UCT Online Funding application does not cover historical fee debt. The funding applied for is for that specific academic year.

Yes. You can apply for the PG Online funding application prior to receiving an outcome for your admissions application to UCT. Note that you must have applied for admission to UCT through both your department and the central admissions office to access the application on the PeopleSoft student portal.

Yes. Students who registered mid-year are eligible to apply for funding via the UCT PG Financial Aid Bursary and are to do so in the preceding year before the closing date. Note that you will not receive the award until you have registered.

Yes. You are encouraged to apply for all funding opportunities, as funding is not guaranteed. You need to declare all sources of funding, as the UCT Financial Aid Bursary is a contribution towards your cost of study.

Note: Combined funding can only be held up to the UCT career limits: Honours: R190 000 Master’s: R254 000 Doctoral: R315 000, as stipulated in the PG Funding Policy.

Applicants will first receive a receipt acknowledging receipt of application once you click submit: • If you do not meet the preliminary eligibility criteria, the committee will send a denied/ineligibility letter. • If your application is complete and you have met the preliminary eligibility criteria, the committee will assess your application during selection and an outcome will be communicated during December of the application year. Note that approved outcomes are provisional on meeting the conditions set forward on the PG Funding policy.

Unsuccessful applicants may seek alternative funding opportunities through the electronic funding noticeboard as well as consulting with their department or supervisor for any departmental or available project-based funding.

Your bursary value will be adjusted.

Students who receive GAP awards are to cover the balance only. Late payment penalties are adjusted

Your bursary will be adjusted, depending on the conditions of the award. Please enquire with the PG Funding Office administrators.

Awards may be cancelled/withdrawn as per the conditions set in the claim form such as: • Full time employed, • change in programme/degree, • denied an academic place, • exceeds UCT career limit, • unclaimed award, etc.

Students eligible for renewal, such as those moving from

• 1st to 2nd year of a Master’s and
• 1st to 2nd Doctoral or
• 2nd to 3rd Doctoral

awards will be renewed, provided they have made satisfactory progress.